September Flying, Fledglings are trying; holiday steps were slow, back to work we go ...

[Stillcounting]

Welcome to the September 2010 Fledgling Flying thread!

This is where from the 1st of the month, we attempt to declutter and follow the 30-step wisdom of the Fat Fairy, with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation along the way. (More info available here! )

Many thanks to our previous splendiforous thread leader Ellie for guiding us through July and August and to her dynamic deputy, the one and only PA. You've both made it a lot of fun!

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach (and don't worry - we are all at different stages):

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

Together we can do it! All newcomers welcome!

ohh is that a virus that is going round? I just thought I was falling apart and needed shooting will remove ring docs re earache off list tomo. and see if it settles by end of week before worrying about it. Then again i still might just be falling apart. 11pm is my set bedtime.
yell at me if i am still here in 10 mins.

List tomo:
School day morning routine
training
return shirts
mission
school night routine

MrsD - at DS's story, teacher will love it!

Ouch - delegate shredding to DS. Ours fight over it as much as they fight over whose turn it is with the TV remote

Bit 'rabbit in the headlights' here too MrsD Had planned to get loads done whilst DH and DD were away but haven't touched her room and have only just got the curtains out, had a look, can't work out how to do next bit so am about to fold them back up into bag :(
Inspite of that it has felt like I have got lots done today though possibly not much Flying!

• Morning routine - mostly done
• Sort out shed at school where School Assoc keeps its 'stuff' - done and discovered lots of interesting stuff
• Book as many people as poss for Autumn Fayre - done some
• Email helpers for 'Tea and Tissues' event on Thurs - done
• 15 mins x ? in DD's room - no
• Curtains - no
• Pick up DS - done
• More blackberrying - DS declared he was tired
• Make huge Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner and freezer - done
• Reading and playing with DS - done
• Early night for both of us - done for him, I'm off soon.

I also had a bit of a tidy in the garden with DS's help and have cooked up several plans with one of teachers at school - one a fundraiser and one to get parents in to read to the children.
Relations between school and parents have been difficult 'formal' since I have been there (DD now in Yr3) but head leaving suddenly last term (very odd) and new head arriving this term has really changed things - really feels like teachers were being held back previously and are now being encouraged and supported. Atmosphere in school is very different, very positive and the stuff that went on today just wouldn't have happened before. I'm very excited about it as at last it is beginning to feel like we are working together rather than 'us' and 'them'.

Time for bed, night all.

what have you done with the curtains Feetheart? what style are you making/ adapting?

I must sort out making ds' new roman blind at some point. its on my to do list from hell. I dont look at it, it just lingers.

Not much flying done here but went for a swim after work and done an hour's paperwork.

Have got to find document to support H's housing application. I have NO idea where it is . Help :(

DD1 still poorly and very sorry for herself. No school today and tomorrow not looking hopeful.

Had lovely chat to very good friend on the phone - was lovely as hadn't spoken for ages.

Watched Bouquet of Barbed Wire. Glad to see a family more dysfunctional than my own

Must do some sorting of washing tomorrow as basket very full and beginning to flow lava-like out of the sides

Good morning all! Hope you are all OK.

Arrggghhh!!! Overslept!

Today's baby-step, no. 21, is ignorable more indoctrination

Today we are still in Zone 4 - the master bedroomhere

Mission = bedside tables

Tuesday is "a free day" - just do our normal routines.

Reminders (if you are interested) here

Back later, have a good one!

Morning all,

Have just dropped the DDs off at their meeting point for the walk to school and DS at Kindergarten, and was relieved to discover that the "native speaker" this year is indeed a native English speaker and not from Eastern Europe. As they don't hear English regularly from anyone other than me (and CBeebies - not to be underestimated as a source of new phrases!), it's good that they're not exposed to more non-native English than is strictly necessary! (I'm constantly drumming it into them that no, it's not "heppy birsday", "Helloween", "Spidermen", etc.)

Glad to hear you're feeling better SC and hope your earache is better soon Ouch.

Today's list:

Morning routine
Bank
Mission
15 min decluttering
Send birthday card
Pick up DD2 and friend, then DD1, then DS
Afternoon routine
Invoice
Book hotel for October
Discuss summer plans with DH
Evening routine

Morning all,

SC I think I've caught your cold . No earache, but woozy, sore throat, metallic taste in mouth.

So, no gym for me this morning (never mind!).

On with the decluttering. Managed to put away my own clothes last night, will do DCs next. DH can do his own.

Start filling up all the plastic boxes I bought yesterday
Go to town for a few odds and ends.

Have invited one of DDs friends over to play after lunch
DS to tennis after school
DD to ballet after school
WAshing - need to hang out
DW need to put on.

Morning Still, Linzer, Ouch, MissB, SC, Feet, Ellie, Bob, Pluto and all you other Flyladies (sorry, have run out of puff for all those names).

MrsD - I love your son's story too .

SC - Glad you are feeling better today.

Feet - Clearly the last head wasn't popular. Glad the school is improving now. Similar thing has happened at our school. Last head was just a bit old fashioned. From the age of 5, my DS1 spent a lot of playtimes in detention for clowning about in class. It wasn't until he was diagnosed with dyslexia and had special help that his behaviour changed. All the detentions did were demotivate him even more . New head has just abolished detentions and replaced them with 'time out' with 'learning mentors' - all very modern and admittedly could be just detentions with a different name, but the intention seems to be that children like my DS will have their behaviour discussed and looked at more closely, rather than just ignored and put down to 'naughty behaviour'. (Rant over, sorry).

DS2 was meant to be going to school this morning, but was grumpy all morning, sneezed a lot, then put himself back to bed before we left, complaining that his throat felt sore. So no school for him today.

List for today looks like this:

Morning routine
Load d/w done
Put rubbish out done
Swish and swipe
One hour of work (with DS2 here )
Put Monday's washing away
Make spag bol
PM routine
Eve routine

DS2 wants attention, so need to go. Waves to all!

Headless dead mouse in kitchen this morning and DS quite weepy and 'scared' to be anywhere by himself meant a less than ideal start to the morning - ho hum

Am procrastinating again over work but must get going as DH and DD home this evening and I will be caught out if I haven't done much
Short list and no catch-ups again, sorry:

• Morning routine
• WORK
• 11am pick up carpet sample squares from Freecycle (for easy version of musical chairs - maybe more on that later!)
• Washing in (put it on line last night) and more washing out
• More WORK
• Mission x 2. Am liking the idea of major de-cluttering between now and end of Oct as that is when my Mum is coming to visit. She has lived with my OCD step-father for over 30 years and it rubs off. I want the house to look good when she comes this time!
• Maybe blackberrying over lunch
• Pick up windfalls for another Freecycler - mega crop this year
• More WORK
• Sort out some Autumn Fayre stuff if time
• Sausage, chips and beans for dinner as requested :)
• Boy to bed early
• Happy campers turn up at some point!

Right, onwards!

I was doing so well this morning and about to finish my morning routine in record time when it was rudely interrupted by the arrival of some work. Still, I suppose I should be grateful - it's the first job I've had to do so far this month. Anyway, three pages have been duly proofread and returned so I can get back to my list now (no point reposting it as there's virtually nothing to cross off).

feetheart Yuk at dead mouse - was a cat responsible?

Toffee Hope your DS is feeling better soon.

MrsD Your story made me smile too - especially the age difference between you and your DH. I remember being highly embarrassed at school by how old my parents were; they were... wait for it... in their early to mid-thirties when I started primary school!

Linzer - yes, girl cat responsible, boy cat can only catch things she has previously killed

Poor DD and DS, they have no chance! I must be the oldest Mum at the Reception class gate by quite some way.

So far have done:

• WORK
• 11am pick up carpet sample squares from Freecycle
• Washing in, more washing out and another load in machine

Now need to do

• More WORK

and possibly finish Morning Routine

Today I will be mainly eating.............Chocolate Fingers :)

Well, feeling very woozy still, so I have just done the basics, washing on the line, DW done but not emptied, floor swept, and then sorted through a long overdue pile of paperwork. Oh and changed a lightbulb.

Now off to get DD from school in a minute.

Feetheart - are you going to play Musical Mats? DD used to do this at pre-school and loved it.

really really falling behind on everything here - due to umpteen secondary school visits with ds/without ds/discussion with other parents about sss...

still, beginning to get slightly clearer picture of what secondary schools are like, hot stuffy classrooms et al {grin]
mixed schools/single sex schools/far/near/big/small.
One lesson the teacher was asking for ideas on the conventions of POP VIDEOS, I wanted to put my hand up and say *""$% [eager] I know the answer - and as for the TEXTILES lessons - I am so envious..we never seemed to do that in the old days..
ellie teaching must be enjoyable and gruelling in equal parts - still more fun than housework I'll warrant...

housework
prepare casserole
unload dw
put in laundry after two days of not doing any
wipe worktop/tables
ring piano teacher to cancel tomorrow lesson - as yet another open day

tbh have done no housework at all for last three days, just to see what happened, and because I have not been at home much...
and as I suspected...the place...just...fell apart. I think dh noticed.
He said..."your efforts are appreciated"
I've also been going to bed on the dot at 10.00pm which is what he always wanted and he now realises the consequences!!!!Filthy kitchen!

feetheart read-in sounds an excellent idea. In our school we have had tremendous difficulties over this because of CRB checks..

After noon. done everything today except return shirts cos i forgot to pick them up. Not looked at mission yet and have school night routine to do later.

Have trained butt off and hurt. But happy. it was very productive training session.
Although not got time to shower and pick ds up on time so will have to try not to stand still until ds get home so i dont get too stiff. Maybe i will even get a shower withut ds reading me a story at the same time today

shower and pjs for ds Ouch and then he might let you have one too?

worktops done
recycling done
pickup first wave done
casserole inoven
dw done
laundry off line and new load in done
school snacks eaten

floor doing

todo
leek something or other (use up6 leeks)
put away veg box
new star charts for everyone
ring piano teacher
make some choc buns with ds2 who is here by himself for now
homework x 3
piano/violin x 4
beds abandon
bedroom rescues x 4 litter, laundry, scattered books
plant bulbs still

longtermtodos will think about on antiprocrastination day (WED)

Linzer I am absolutely loving Helloween that's what it should be - lots of friendly hellos!

MrsD - yep, Musical mats :)
Have got them for a workshop I'm doing on Saturday and then for DS's birthday in November.

Didn't go blackberrying, lay and read book instead - lovely :)

Right, must make chips

Just flying by with a .

Went to GP today who chased up the MRI results. Apparently my lump is, well, a lump!! Nothing sinister. YIPPEEEEE!! The stupid thing is now infected which is why I am feeling naff and its painful. Antibiotics and bingo I should be back to normal very soon .
I see consultant on Tuesday to discuss what is
going to happen from here.

One happy bunny!!!

So, no excuses now. Back to flying tomorrow. Signed off for the rest of the week anyway, so I intend to make the most of it and relax and enjoy my life!

Fabulous news PA, thank goodness for that! Back later.

Love that new inbox thingy!! Something else to waste my time on .... although billy-no-mates and not actually received anything yet!

Fab news PA

Right am going to chase ds down for a game of something. So tired today so early night not going to be difficult Staying awake to bedtime on the other hand

swanriver I got my shower by teaching ds how to cook tea. We only had sausages and pasta. He put sausages on and turned off pasta and determined sausages cooked. It bought me the time needed for a shower. Lovely. Not long enough, but lovely non the less

feetheart sounds lovely

heellooween. sounds fun. but am a traditionalist and it is the feast of all hallows here

Right sleep is needed. only 2 hours til i can crash ds might need to wake me up so he can go to bed

That's fantastic, PA! What a relief for you. Celebration tonight?

Morning routine done
Load d/w done
Put rubbish out done
Swish and swipe done
One hour of work (with DS2 here) done!
Put Monday's washing away tooboringstillnotdone
Make spag bol done
PM routine
Eve routine

Extras:
Made two lots of biscuits with DS2. Spent a lot of time clearing up the subsequent mess.
Corrected DS1's Kumon maths
Tidied sitting room
Hoovered

DS2 is charging round the house, so I think he is definitely better and will be at school tomorrow. I have just noticed the state of his bedroom, so am off to tackle that now, otherwise he won't be able to get in to go to bed.

Working tomorrow, so minimal Flying again.

Hello everyone - well done for pushing on through your lists

So many posts - don't know where to start - so am justing jumping in where we are at (à la Fat Fairy)

Hurray PA that is FANTABULOUS news!!!!! I'm so relieved for you!! (Obviously - not that you need antibiotics - but that it is nothing more sinister than an infection - still sounds nasty though !!) Hope the meds kick in soon and that you are celebrating tonight!!!

Hope you have a lovely deep sleep tonight Ouch and bravo to your ds for his culinary skills.

Sympathies Swan it is incredible how the house falls apart so quickly when one is either out doing other things, on strike or ill. Mine has collapsed in to chaos after two days. Dh doesn't notice though - except when he doesn't have clean pants, socks or shirts or when the fridge is empty (ie when it directly impacts on him)! Good luck with your school quest. Feel a bit guilty saying that though as he has stepped up manfully with childcare/food shopping/cooking while I've been ill.

So sorry to hear you are feeling rough MrsDinky Hope it passes quickly ...
(Loved all the details in your ds's story btw!! He's obviously going to be a Pulitzer winning journalist when he grows up!
([When asked at school what her mother's profession was, dd said that I "talk loudly on the phone"!!!] Oh and thanks again for offering to deputise ....much better though thankfully now.

Hope the campers had a good time Feetheart and you don't have too much washing/equipment to deal with. What are you reading btw? (Have just finished Wolf Hall - utterly brilliant.) I'm intending to do another big declutter over the next 3 mths too so will be with you in spirit ...

Toffee hope your ds2 feels better soon - there are a lot of coughs and colds about. Thanks again for rounding up yesterday and for excellent link to make-up site.

Linzer lol at "heppy birsday"! Reminds me of last Christmas when dd's school choir sang 'carols from around the world'. She was quite cross with me for having the audacity to correct her "figgy pooood-in" Thanks again. for explaining the intricacies of the weekly schedule btw. (Oh and from way back down thread - dh is 1/4 Belgian, the rest Brit - but he has lived here so long that he has gone totally native)

MissBennett hope your dd1 feels better soon. Did you manage to find the missing document?

Ellie hope your dh had a lovely birthday!

Waves to Pluto - excellent list as ever. Sorry to hear that you were robbed - sounds awful - hope you are OK

Very impressive list yesterday Nettie

Boblob hope your dd settles in at school soon and gets used to the other staff members

Dart how is the garage decluttering going?

Waves to Tigger too!

Right, I'm going to post this before I lose it and/or get square eyes!!

Thanks again for all your kind words. Am feeling much better today albeit not exactly pulsating with energy - must be the sight of the washing and ironing piles

Have a good evening everyone and see you in the morning.